School Supplies "Emergency" Kit

Now that the kiddos are back to school, you may be breathing a sigh of relief while also realizing that the faster pace of the school year is ready to catch you off guard! This year, be prepared for the last minute project and homework panics by keeping a well-stocked school supplies emergency kit. This kit should contain school supplies your child might lose or run out of on a regular basis as well as the items that are usually needed for special projects. Depending on your kids' ages, your kit might contain basic arts and crafts supplies, school supplies like pencils, paper, an extra notebook, and computer/printer supplies such as ink/toner, paper, and a memory stick. Your kids' teachers should be able to steer you in the right direction if they haven't already provided a list of must-haves.

If you have more than one child, you can keep one kit stocked for everyone or make separate kits, especially if there is a large age difference. A clear bin with a lid and handle makes a good container. You might need a smaller container or pouch within the kit to hold small items like pencils and scissors. Use something you already have or check out these options from The Container Store:

Clear Handled Cases

Translucent Totes

Smart Store System Tote

Two-Sided Compartment Storage Boxes

Small Hobby Case

Warning: Be sure to check your kit(s) on a regular basis and re-stock as needed!

Bottom Line: Keeping a well-stocked school supplies emergency kit will keep everyone happy and prevent late-night or early morning trips to the store to save the day!

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Know Your Stuff

I think this must be a sign - I've randomly encountered 2 articles on doing your own home inventory in the last 24 hours - one while looking for tax info and the other while browsing my Real Simple magazine.

Even as a professional organizer, I have not conducted my own home inventory. While we do have decent records and receipts for what we own, I could not guarantee you that our records are complete and we haven't taken the step of storing this valuable info off-site or on-line. But the timing is right - all of our possessions have been reviewed, purged and packed up for some renovations. Unpacking and setting up our place again will provide a prime opportunity to tackle this smart task. Not to mention that we will have several new items in our home thanks to the renovations and our upcoming baby due in June. We've carefully chosen these items and spent good money on them, so it makes sense to keep good records for them.

Why would you need to know details about your home inventory? First and foremost, it's important in case of a disaster or damage to your home. Having good records will make the insurance process much smoother. Considering that a flood was the original reason for our current renovation project, it is fitting that we use this opportunity to get our ducks (more) in a row. We only lost a couple rugs in the flood (in addition to our floors), and I'll admit I was shocked and dismayed to find that we didn't have the receipts. Good records can also be helpful for selling items in the future, and product recalls and repairs, to name a few. Simply put, it is easier to have this information than to wish you had it later when you need it (and it's too late).

One of the keys pointed out in these articles was storing your inventory on-line so you have access to it in case of home disaster or damage. I plan to try out the Insurance Information Institute's on-line tool, KnowYourStuff.org, which I discovered in this Get Rich Slowly guest post. And here's a link to the article I spotted in Real Simple. After we get settled back into our condo and I've completely the inventory, I'll report back on the experience.

Bottom Line: Knowing what you own and where to find this information is in some ways like carrying an umbrella to ensure it doesn't rain. You'd rather have it than not when the need arises!

Packing Smart

I don't know too many people who love to pack, but if you are getting ready for a move or home renovations, as is the case in my home right now, there are some smart moves you can make to at least take advantage of a prime de-cluttering opportunity. You pretty much have to touch everything you own if you're doing a whole house packing job, so it's a great chance to review what you have and make sure you're not expending any more energy caring for items you don't use, love or need.

So what can you do to avoid packing or moving items that don't deserve real estate in your home?

1. Plan ahead as much as possible. In most cases, a move or home project is not a surprise, and while many of us are so busy with the rest of life that packing often gets left to the last minute, do yourself a favor and give yourself at least several weeks to make sure you can pack smart!

2. Scan your home for items you want to sell. This could be anything from small kitchen appliances to furniture to electronics or sporting goods. There are a variety of options for selling items - Craigslist, eBay, consignment, specialty online or local resellers, just to name a few. Pick the avenue you're most comfortable with and take action. We are currently selling a variety of items on Craigslist and have had some quick results.

3. Purge while you pack! There's no sense in packing anything you don't use, love or need. Just as you need to have packing supplies like boxes or containers at the ready, be prepared with trash/recycling containers and bags or boxes for items you want to donate. For donations, pick an organization that matches your needs - some offer on site pick up vs. local drop-off locations, some accept certain items and not others, or you may find specialty organizations or drives in your area for certain types of items, such as sporting goods or computers. A simple Google search is often enough to find what you're looking for. If you know you're going to have a lot of donations, it might be a good idea to schedule a pick up in advance - this can be an effective motivating deadline!

Even if you're not packing yourself (and I don't blame you), you can still follow the above steps to make sure you're not moving items unnecessarily. For donations, simply weed them out and get rid of them before the packing help arrives or mark them and set them aside for a donation pick up. And if all of this seems overwhelming or you have a tight timeline, enlist the help of a professional organizer to help you breeze through steps 2 and 3 - now that's smart packing!


Bottom Line: While packing for a move or home renovations may not be on the top of your favorite activities list, use it as a prime opportunity to review and purge what you own, so you're left with just what you use, love, and need on the other end - how refreshing would that be?!

4 Reasons to Love Lists

Hi everyone! We're getting yet another snow storm here in Boston - I don't know whether I'm over it or used to it yet.

If you read the last post about 5 minute fillers, you know that a key part of this strategy is making a list. Organized people, especially professional organizers, are often known for their list-making, sometimes to the point of being made fun of by other less-list-inclined friends and family. Before you poke fun at your list-making friends, consider the many benefits of making a list...

1) The most obvious and well-known benefit is that lists help you remember things! A basic example of this is a grocery list - have you ever tried to grocery shop without a list and come home without something you need? I have!

2) Making lists also helps you clear the clutter from your head so you can focus on other more important things rather than trying to keep track of all your to-do's like little sticky notes floating around your brain. Spending 5 minutes each day downloading the to-do's in your head to a list, whether you prefer paper or electronic, can help stop you from waking up in the middle of the night thinking about what you need to remember tomorrow! Speaking of, that's a great activity to add to your 5 minute fillers list :)

3) Lists can help you structure your time efficiently. If you can see what you need to do, it is easier to prioritize and plan your day so the most important tasks get taken care of. The 5 minute fillers list is a great example of using a list to help you use your time efficiently.

4) And last but not least, if you have a list, you get to cross things off of it! Ok, I'll admit, I've gone back and added things to a list, just to have the sense of accomplishment of crossing them off. And yes, this is often why list-makers get made fun of, but there is truly some benefit to knowing how you're spending your time and seeing what you've accomplished. For one thing, it just feels good to get things done, but this benefit can also help you improve your time management skills since it helps you get a better sense of what you can realistically get done during your day.

Bottom Line: Don't dismiss the power of lists! They are a simple strategy that can help you remember what you need to get done, clear your head, use your time efficiently, and know what you got done.

By the way, for those who joined me on the 5 minutes fillers list challenge, I was pretty pleased with my progress. I completed about 75% of the tasks I'd put on my list in only a couple days and also completed several other nagging tasks along the way. Now I'll admit, there are a few items from the original list that are yet to be completed, but overall I like this strategy. I have no doubt that it increased my 'spare time' productivity and helped me get more done than if I didn't have the list to rely on. I plan to keep up this practice and make it a habit - how about you?

Getting Things Done...5 Minutes at a Time

Do you ever feel like you have so much to do that when you have 5 or 10 minutes of 'spare' time, you have no idea what to start with and you end up doing nothing?! Well, you're not alone. I just read a great list of dozens of things you can do when you find yourself with a few extra minutes in this month's Real Simple magazine - part of their 'Get it Together Handbook.'

While not all of the items will fit your needs, I certainly found plenty of items I could act on when my next 5 free minutes pops up. In fact, I was so inspired that I quickly went through my house with a notebook and made my own personalized list...and guess what, it only took me about 5 minutes! Here's my list - maybe it will inspire you to act during your next free moment...

My 'Five Minute Fillers' List

• Shred old receipts.
• File 3 items in To File folder.
• Tackle 1 item in To Do folder.
• Put away new holiday gifts and recycle boxes.
• Wipe off kitchen counters.
• Review and purge clipped recipes.
• Make grocery and household items shopping list.
• Package gift to mail out.
• Fill out birthday cards and prep to mail.
• Put boots away and vacuum sand from boot tray.
• Wipe down bathroom surfaces.
• Vacuum couches.
• Put away remaining holiday wrapping supplies.
• Water plants.
• Iron shirts.
• Change pillow cases.
• Review and purget 3 files.
• Transport donations to car.
• Write holiday thank you notes.
• Clean up email inbox.

My challenge to you (and me): make your own 'five minute filler' list, post it somewhere prominent, and see how many things you can get done over the next week when a spare moment pops up. You will get a great burst of momentum from accomplishing those small, sometimes nagging, chores. Then make it a habit by refreshing your list each week and continuing the momentum - you'll get so much done you won't know what to do with yourself! But let's not get ahead of ourselves...let's take this one 5-minute burst at a time...I'll be right there with you!

Bottom Line: Don't waste your precious free time trying to decide what to do. Set yourself up for success by posting your 'five minute filler' list and get to it next time you've got 5 minutes to spare.